Ady Mintz Reflects on 21 Years Since Gush Katif Disengagement and Calls for Gradual Return

Twenty-one years after the Israeli disengagement from Gush Katif and northern Samaria, Ady Mintz, a former senior member of the Yesha Council during the disengagement, revisits the personal and national trauma of that period. Speaking at the Gush Katif conference organized by the Gush Katif Heritage Center in Beit Binyamin, Mintz described the disengagement as a pivotal moment marked by deep pain but also by growth and hope. He recalled his last days in Gan Or before the evacuation and the emotional toll of leaving, saying, "For me, the expulsion was both a personal and national fracture." Despite the trauma, Mintz emphasized his focus on how to grow from the experience.

Mintz noted that the years following the disengagement were characterized by stagnation in settlement growth due to legal and political constraints. However, he highlighted a dramatic turnaround in the past two years, crediting the current government, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and the Religious Zionist Party for this progress. One of his most moving moments was returning to the community of Sansana, where he once lay ill during the evacuation, now seeing families and caravans established under official state auspices, which he described as "closing the circle."

Regarding renewed discussions about resettling parts of the Gaza Strip, Mintz advocated for a cautious and gradual approach. He suggested focusing initially on northern Gaza communities such as Nisanit, Dugit, and Eli Sinai, emphasizing the need for Israeli society to understand and gradually embrace the idea.

Reflecting on the internal debates during the disengagement, Mintz clarified that the tone was set by Gush Katif residents, who chose to fight for public opinion rather than escalate to civil disobedience or violent confrontation. He recounted asking evacuation commanders about potential violent breaches of fences and was told the military was prepared to prevent such incidents at all costs, even if it meant casualties.

Concluding, Mintz offered a broader perspective on Israel’s national journey, describing it as a process of ups and downs but continuous progress. He referenced past setbacks like Yamit and Gush Katif but expressed optimism about current growth and the ongoing forward movement of the national redemption process.